Container closure



Aug. 8, 1933. .1, M.' YOUNG CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed July 10, 1929 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 8, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER CLOSURE Application July 10, 1929. Serial No. 377,143

7 Claims.

This invention relates in general to containers, and more particularly to a novel and improved end closure for display top containers and the method of applying the same.

An object of my invention is the provision of an improved ring closure which utilizes the inherent elasticity of the metal of its depending flange to produce a drive fit between it and a portion of the container body of predetermined size and which is also adapted to secure between it and the container body a display member of transparent material to produce a hermetically closed display top for the container.

Another object of my invention is the provision of an improved ring closure for securing a transparent, flexible and.- frangible display member to a container body and which is applied to the latter by forcing or driving a depending outer flange part having a relatively small diameter over a container part of predetermined larger diameter, thereby stretching the metal of the closure flange within its elastic limit over the sized container area to produce a permanent connection therebetween which can be made hermetic by the addition of a gasket or compound lining between the transparent material and the container top.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a method for applying my improved display top ring closure by means of simple and inexpensive pressure closing mechanisms.

Numerous other objects of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one type of container to which my invention is applicable;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view with parts broken away to show the sizing of the container body by a die mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the container body, transparent member, and ring closure in superimposed and separated relationship;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing the relative position of the ring closure and body before the former is forced over the latter by die mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the same relative position of body and closure as in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the ring closure completely forced home over the sealing area of the container body.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention I have shown on the drawing a sheet metal container comprising a cylindrical body 11 having a side seam 12, a bottom closure 13, and a top closure 14.

The upper part of the container body 11 is bent inwardly at 15 to form a reduced annular neck or vertical wall 16 and the latter has its extremity bent inwardly, downwardly, and outwardly to provide a rounded top curl 17.

The top closure 14 consists or may consist of three main elements or members, namely, a sheet metal sealing ring 18 of inverted U-shape, a circular, transparent display member 19, and a gasket or compound lining 20. The inverted U-shaped sealing ring 18, preferably drawn from a one piece blank, comprises a substantially vertical depending flange 21 of substantial width forming one leg of the inverted U, a vertical Wall part 22 forming the other or shorter leg of the inverted U, a rounded shoulder connecting the two legs and forming an inner recess 23 and a horizontal flange 24 arranged at substantially right angles with the parts 21 and 22 and terminating into a hollow annular bead or curl 25 which reinforces the ring closure at its inner annular edge and defines a circular display opening 26.

The transparent display member 19 is made from any suitable material which combines glasslike transparency with strength, toughness, flexibility, severability, and the quality to withstand processing temperatures to which various food and other products packed in containers are subjected.

The transparent member 19 in the preferred embodiment shown and described herein is drawn or otherwise formed from a one piece circular blank to fit snugly within the U-shaped ring closure 14 with its central panel 27 arranged below the horizontal flange 24 and closing the opening 26 of the ring closure, and with its U-shaped annular margin 28 engaging the inner surface of the parts 22, 23, and the upper part of the flange 21 of the ring closure 14, the extreme edge 29 of the member 19 terminating a short distance below the recess 23.

To obtain the best sealing results from my improved closure it is desirable to have the sealing area or the body of substantially accurate predetermined diameter. This can be readily accomplished by die action and one way of accomplishing this sizing of the container body 11 is illustrated in Fig. 2 wherein the container body is shown positioned between a support or lower chuck 30 and an upper chuck or ring die 31 having a cylindrical recess 32 of a diameter which is precisely equal to the desired diameter in the annular sealing area 33 of the container body 11, so that when the sizing die 31 is forced down upon the container body 11, which has been placed in concentric alignment with the recess 32, the container is brought to a predetermined diameter to provide the peripheral sealing area Referring now to Fig. 4, the finished and sized container body 11 is shown positioned upon a lower support or chuck 34 which may be the same part of the same machine as support 30, or may be part of another machine.

The sealing ring 18 with its transparent member 19 and the gasket or compound lining 20 assembled therewith is placed over the open container body with the edge 35 of its depending flange 21 touching the upper extremity of the sealing area 33 at the inward bend 15, and the ring 18 is now ready to be forced or driven home over the body sealing area 33 by means of an upper pressure member 36 actuated by any suitable mechanism (not shown) engaging and pressing down upon the outer rim of the shoulder 23. Considerable pressure must be exerted by the member 36 to force and stretch the metal of the depending flange 21 within its elastic limits, about the body sealing area 33.

In all cases, the inner diameter of the depending flange 21 is smaller than the outer diameter of the sealing area 33. How much smaller, depends upon the weight of the sheet metal stock used and other varying or desired conditions.

When the flange 21 has been fully driven home over the body sealing area 33, the transparent display member 19 is thereby tightly secured between the container top and the sealing ring, the gasket or compound lining 20 is squeezed between the transparent member and the container top, and the metal of the flange 21 is expanded to within a margin of safety of its maximum elasticity. Atight metal to metal seal and a hermetic seal are thus created between the body and the closure which seal is permanent.

It will be readily apparent that for convenience of illustration the lower chucks 30 and 34 and the upper members 31 and 36 are shown in the most simple form, and may be parts of a hand operated machine or machines or of automatic apparatus.

It should also be noted that instead of the sheet metal container body 11, a container body of glass or other solid material having a sealing area of uniform predetermined size can be employed in connection with my improved closure without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

The transparent display member 19 while having sufficient toughness and strength to withstand ordinary handling in packing, storage, transportation and display, is yet adapted to be readily severed to permit access to the contents of the container. When' it is desired to open the container the display member may be severed along the inner periphery of the ring curl 25. Such severence will result in a circular cut out piece which may be removed to open the container to the full extent of the opening center 26 of the ring 18.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:-

1. In a display top container, a container body having a sealing area of predetermined diameter, a transparent display member arranged over said body to close the same, a closure ring adapted to secure said member to said body and having a depending friction flange of substantial width and predetermined diameter adapted to be forced over said area by stretching the metal of said flange within its elastic limits said closure ring being permanently and irremovably united with the body.

2. In a display top container, a container body having a sealing area of pretetermined diameter, a transparent display member arranged over said body to close the same, a gasket or compound lining between said body and said member and a closure ring adapted to secure said member to said body and having a depending friction flange of substantial width engaging said area.

3. In a display top container, a container body having a sealing area of predetermined diameter and a rounded top edge, a transparent display member arranged over said top edge to close the body, a closure ring adapted to secure said member to said body and having a depending friction flange of substantial width and predetermined diameter adapted to be forced over said area by stretching the metal of said flange within its elastic limits.

4. In a display top container, a container body having a sealing area of predetermined diameter and a rounded top edge, a transparent, flexible display member fitting over said top edge to close the body, a drawn closure ring adapted to secure said member to said body and having 9. depending friction flange of substantial width and predetermined diameter adapted to be forced over said area by stretching the metal of said flange within its elastic limits.

5. In a display top container, a container body. having a sealing area of predetermined diameter and an inwardly curled top edge, a transparent, frangible display member fitting over said top edge to close the body, a drawn closure ring adapted to secure said member to said body and having a depending friction flange of substantial width and predetermined smaller diameter than said area adapted to be forced over said area by stretching the metal of said flange within its elastic limits.

6. In a display top container, a container body having a sealing area of predetermined diameter and a rounded top edge, a transparent, flexible display member fitting over said top edge to close the body, a drawn closure ring adapted to secure said member to said body and having a rounded recess corresponding with said rounded top edge, a gasket or compound lining between said top edge and said transparent member, said ring also having an outer depending friction flange of substantial width'and predetermined smaller diameter than said area adapted to be forced over said area by stretching ber and said top edge, and a ring closure adapted to hermetically secure said member to said body and having a depending friction flange of a predetermined smaller diameter than said area adapted to be forced over said area by stretching the metal of said flange within its elastic limits.

JOHN M. YOUNG. 

